Lorgat virtually rules out any match involving India at Eden

Published: Tuesday, February 8, 2011, 17:45 [IST]

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New Delhi, Feb 8 (PTI) International Cricket Councilchief executive Haroon Lorgat today virtually ruled out anypossibility of an India match being held at the Eden Gardensthough the three World Cup fixtures at the venue next monthare expected to be held as per schedule.

"I have received a preliminary report (after yesterday''sinspection) and the progress has been very good since January25. In all likelihood, the remaining three matches will beheld as per schedule," Lorgat told mediapersons at apromotional event announcing ICC''s tie-up with Hyundai Motorshere.

Eden Gardens was originally allotted four World Cupmatches but the India-England game originally scheduled thereon February 27 was shifted to Bangalore due tounder-preparedness of the stadium.

The three remaining matches scheduled to be held at thevenue are South Africa vs Ireland (March 15), Netherlands vsIreland (March 18) and Zimbabwe vs Kenya (March 20).

When asked whether there is any possibility of shiftingthe India vs Ireland game from Bangalore to Kolkata, Lorgatdid not sound too optimistic.

"That will be extremely difficult. A shifting requiresall sorts of logistical changes which may not be possible insuch a short duration," Lorgat said, giving clear indicationabout the end of any hopes that CAB harboured about having atleast one India match at the Eden Gardens.

"It''s an unfortunate reality but greed is not restrictedto any particular region or city. We have a measure of suchactivities and the perpetrators will certainly be brought tobook," he said.

As someone who has always been vocal about introductionof legalised betting in India, Lorgat said, "If one legalisesbetting then it will be far easier to manage the issue oftemptation towards corruption. In countries like Australia,England, there is a regulatory industry. Wherever betting isillegal, things tend to go underground."

The ICC chief executive termed co-hosts India as the"team that will go the distance."

Lorgat dismissed the notion that not being able to employ''Hot-Spot'' for the World Cup was a setback for the ICC.

"I won''t call it a setback. We always knew that therewasn''t enough Hot Spot cameras that could have been deployedfor all matches. However, we have the other set of parametersneeded to to run the Umpires'' Decision Review System in placewhich will definitely reduce the errors in decision." PTI KHSPDS